Monolithic power makes PM ‘dictator’: Khaleda
VISION 2030: AT A GLANCE
- Executive powers to be balanced with necessary amendment - Upper house in parliament to be established - Referendum to be restored for people’s rights - JS to become centre of all national issues - Ombudsmen for administrative transparency - Special Power Act-1974 to be repealed - Bangladesh to be transformed into high-middle income country by 2030 - Per capita income to be upgraded to US$5,000 - Annual growth rate to reach to double-digit figure
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today said the monolithic executive authority of the prime minister has given rise to a “form of autocratic practice within the democratic system”.
She said this while briefing media to unveil her “Vision 2030” at the Westin hotel in Dhaka this afternoon. BNP’s “Vision 2030” is a forerunner to its electoral manifesto for the next general election due in early 2019.
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“Experience of the recent times made the people of the country deeply realise that the monolithic executive authority of the prime minister has created "an authoritarian rule with a parliamentary facade", she said, quoting the vision.
“In order to bring an end to this situation, the executive powers of the republic shall be balanced through appropriate constitutional amendment,” Khaleda said.
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As a part of the reform of the current constitutional arrangement, the former premier said it would be examined if an upper house of the Jatiya Sangsad might be established keeping the existing unitary character and structure of the constitution intact.
"BNP shall restore the provision of referendum in the constitution to reinstate the democratic right of the people," she told reporters.
She added that the Jatiya Sangsad would be transformed into the central point of all national issues. “The opposition parties will be shared on all issues of national interest.”
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"To ensure democracy, good governance and economic transparency, BNP shall cleanse all constitutional and statutory bodies of the filth of vested interest and party-philia through adopting all legal and procedural measures to enhance efficiency and restore confidence in these bodies."
Khaleda proposed for creating the office and position of the ombudsman as per the constitution in order to ensure administrative accountability and transparency.
‘Vision 2030’ features 256 points under 37 sections including democracy, nation-building, good governance, defence, foreign policy, moral rearmament, service delivery, social safety network, Liberation War, terrorism, extremism and militancy, economy and development, media and freedom of expression, ICT and local government.
Special Power Act-1974 will be repealed if BNP is voted to power, she also said.
'Bangladesh to be high-middle income country by 2030'
“BNP wants to transform Bangladesh by 2030 into a modern and democratic high-middle income country,” Khaleda said.
She also said that per capita income shall be upgraded to US$5,000 by this period.
“In order to achieve this goal, BNP shall adopt a creative and intelligent initiative to boost annual growth rate to a double-digit figure,” she said.
The press conference began around 4:55pm and ended around 6:50pm.
The ‘Vision 2030’ features 256 points under 37 sections including democracy, nation-building, good governance, defence, foreign policy, moral rearmament, service delivery, social safety network, Liberation War, terrorism, extremism and militancy, economy and development, media and freedom of expression, ICT and local government.
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